Singapore’s continuing growth in commerce and industry means the need for skilled business leaders is as great as ever. For knowledgeable leaders with skills, the opportunities to contribute and make a positive difference are endless.
Some of the areas where opportunities continue to arise are:
· Financial technology (FinTech). Singapore continues to be a hub for financial technology and supports the resilience and growth of FinTech companies.
· AI and Technology, Singapore has recently announced its second National AI Strategy focusing on excellence and empowerment.
· Advanced Manufacturing. Singapore aims to grow its advanced manufacturing footprint in Southeast Asia, and this sector is likely to see significant development and growth in the next couple of years.
These are only three of the many areas where skilled business leaders will be required to meet emerging demand.
Skilled business leaders are like conductors of an orchestra. They understand it takes many people with different talents to work together to create something that contributes to the greater good of the community.
TMC Academy, through its business degrees, equips students to be successful conductors of business.
TMC Academy working with industry to meet the demand for Bachelor Business Degree.
One of TMC Academy's strengths is its investment in developing strong links and partnerships with industry, particularly in business management and leadership.
This investment is seen in the extensive practice expertise of members of the TMC Academy Industry Advisory Board (IAB). The IAB facilitates the ongoing development and review of the curriculum to ensure it aligns with current industry practices and future trends.
This means students studying business at TMC Academy are well-placed to make an impact
when they enter management roles.
TMC offers several business qualifications. However, the two most popular are the Bachelor's Degree and the Master's Degree.
Both degrees are awarded through TMC’s Academic partner, the University of Northampton.
The University of Northampton was established in the United Kingdom in 1924. It has been awarded Gold, the highest possible mark in the UK government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The TEF is the only system introduced by the UK government that assesses the quality of teaching in English universities.
Bachelor Degrees.
There are several Bachelor’s degrees in business available to students.
· Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Business and Management (Top Up).
· Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – International Logistics and Trade Finance (Top Up).
· Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Marketing Management (Top Up).
All are available on a full-time (9 months) or part-time basis (13 months).
The core modules which students complete are:
· Social Responsibility of Business
· Principles of Marketing Management
· Strategic Management
· Accounting and Finance for Managers
· Strategic Human Resource Management
· Business Project
One of the challenges faced by FinTech companies in Singapore is attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive market. The core module on Strategic Human Resource Management provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement strategies and build positive workplace cultures, which are essential to retaining top talent.
Another challenge FinTech companies face is access to sustainable funding. This challenge involves knowing where to apply for funding and correctly costing projects in a complex regulatory environment where data privacy and anti-money laundering laws must also be considered. The Accounting and Finance core module provides the skills students require to operate in this environment.
Master's Degree in Business.
Just as with the Bachelor’s degrees, TMC provides several choices in the Master's level degree courses. TMC offers these choices because it recognises that students have different areas of interest.
The options available to students at the Master’s level include:
· Master of Business Administration – (Top Up).
· Executive Master of Business Administration.
· Master of Business Administration.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Top Up)
This globally recognised postgraduate qualification is intended for students with no previous business or management experience but who desire to become business professionals.
Recognising that students do not have previous experience in management, this course is designed to develop the broad range of skills required for careers in business and management, such as business strategy, finance, marketing, operations management and human resource management.
The qualification is available full-time and part-time and takes eight months to complete.
It is also awarded through the University of Northampton.
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
This programme is designed to meet the needs of existing and potential senior managers in all employment sectors. It is suitable for those who may be expected to significantly contribute to managing at a strategic level in their organisation.
The EMBA programme aims to equip course participants with the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage modern, complex and increasingly dynamic business environments effectively. To provide students with the knowledge and skills, the following modules are studied:
· Critical Issues in Business.
· Management and Organisational Behaviour.
· Leadership in a Changing Context.
· Strategic Marketing.
· Managing Operations and the Supply Chain.
· Competitive Strategy and Innovation.
· Financial Decision Making.
· Business Research Project.
The Executive Master of Business Administration is also available as Executive Master of Business Administration (Top Up)
Students who already hold the TMC Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies and Leadership are eligible for credit exemption, leaving them to study the following modules:
· Business Research Project
· Critical Issues in Business
Master of Business Administration.
This qualification is also intended for students who do not have any previous business or management experience but who are seeking the skills necessary to enter a career in one of the areas of business, such as business strategy, finance, marketing, operations management and human resource management.
The modules for this qualification are:
· Skills for MBA Study.
· Strategy and Decision Making.
· Practical Data Analysis for Business.
· Measuring Organisational Performance.
· Digital Business.
· Ethical and Responsible Leadership.
· Marketing Innovation.
· Economic Analysis and Value.
· Enterprise in the Circular Economy Value Chain.
· Major Project.
Study in this course is available both full-time and part-time, with full-time study taking 12 months to complete while part-time study takes 18 months.
This degree aims to introduce students to the theory and practice of strategic decision-making in and management of organisations. As mentioned in the introduction, successful business leaders are like conductors. They know how to analyse and manage the dynamic internal and external business environments and how to seek competitive advantage through strategic decision-making.
Students develop the ability to analyse how the dynamic internal and external business environment impacts the component elements of organisations and how to assist organisations in seeking competitive advantage through strategy and decision-making.
An example of an industry where these skills and techniques are crucial is AI Technology. While Singapore is committed to encouraging responsible AI development and supporting businesses in this field, for example, through the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2.0. However, the AI industry faces many challenges.
Some of these challenges include:
1. Resource Efficiency:
AI systems often require significant resources. Optimising the available resources while maintaining performance is essential for sustainable growth and development.
2. Interdisciplinary Expertise:
AI technologies require cooperation across sectors and industries. For example, it is vital to AI's success to have the skill to encourage collaboration from diverse fields, such as computer science, ethics, and social sciences.
3. Ethical Considerations:
Addressing ethical dilemmas related to AI, including privacy, transparency, and accountability, is an ongoing challenge. Balancing innovation with responsible use is critical.
4. Deployment and Adoption:
Integrating AI solutions into various sectors—healthcare, finance, transportation, etc.—requires overcoming implementation barriers and fostering widespread adoption.
5. Data Privacy and Security:
Protecting sensitive data while enabling AI-driven insights poses challenges. Striking a balance between data utility and privacy is essential.
6. Regulatory Frameworks:
Developing robust regulations that encourage innovation while safeguarding against misuse is a delicate task. Striking the right balance is essential for AI growth.
The goal of the Executive Master of Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration degrees provided through TMC Academy is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to address challenges like these in industry and business.
Two of the advantages of studying business through TMC Academy are:
1. both the Bachelor's and the Master's degree courses provide different paths for students to achieve their goals. For example, the Bachelor and Master Top-up courses enable students to build on earlier Diplomas or degrees to gain higher qualifications.
2. As commerce and industry grow and face new challenges in Singapore and other South Asian countries, TMC Academy will continue to provide learning opportunities that equip students with relevant and effective business skills to deal with current and emerging problems.